Toothbrush assembly with rapidly deployable brush head member

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush assembly with a rapidly deployable brush head member that mimics the operation of a switchblade knife. The toothbrush assembly includes a handle structure, a brush head member having a brush head end and a pivot end in pivotal connection with the handle structure, and a brush head switch lock and spring assembly connected between the handle structure and the brush head member. The spring assembly biases the brush head member and the switch lock controls operation of the toothbrush assembly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to novelty toothbrushes and moreparticularly to a toothbrush assembly with a rapidly deployable brushhead member that includes a handle structure, a brush head member havingbrush bristles extending from a brush head end and a pivot end inpivotal connection with the handle structure, and a brush head switchlock and spring assembly connected between the handle structure and thebrush head member such that the brush head member is lockable in anextended configuration and a stored configuration wherein the brush headend is pivoted into and locked within a brush head member storage cavityof the handle structure in a manner to keep the brush bristles of thebrush head end sanitary; the brush} head member being locked in thestorage position by a slidable trigger latch; a safety lock is providedin connection with the handle structure that, when in a disableposition, slidably engages the trigger latch in a manner to prevent thetrigger latch from disengaging from the brush head member and, when inan enable position, is disengaged from the trigger latch in a manner toallow the trigger latch to be activated by the user to release the brushhead member allowing the biasing spring to rapidly pivot the brush headmember at the pivot end causing the brush head end to rapidly rotateinto a locked extended position; a brush head member release button isdepressed to release the brush head member to allow it to be pivotedfrom the extended position back into the storage configuration whendesired.

BACKGROUND ART

Parents and other childcare providers are typically required to remindchildren to brush their teeth. If the toothbrush were fun to play with,children would be more likely to brush their teeth without the need forreminding. It would be desirable, therefore to have a toothbrush thathad a fun, novelty feature that children would like to play with.

It is thus an object of the invention to provide a toothbrush assemblywith a rapidly deployable brush head member that includes a handlestructure, a brush head member having brush bristles extending from abrush head end and a pivot end in pivotal connection with the handlestructure, and a brush head switch lock and spring assembly connectedbetween the handle structure and the brush head member such that thebrush head member is lockable in an extended configuration and a storedconfiguration wherein the brush head end is pivoted into and lockedwithin a brush head member storage cavity of the handle structure in amanner to keep the brush bristles of the brush head end sanitary; thebrush head member being locked in the storage position by a slidabletrigger latch; a safety lock is provided in connection with the handlestructure that, when in a disable position, slidably engages the triggerlatch in a manner to prevent the trigger latch from disengaging from thebrush head member and, when in an enable position, is disengaged fromthe trigger latch in a manner to allow the trigger latch to be activatedby the user to release the brush head member allowing the biasing springto rapidly pivot the brush head member at the pivot end causing thebrush head end to rapidly rotate into a locked extended position; abrush head member release button is depressed to release the brush headmember to allow it to be pivoted from the extended position back intothe storage configuration when desired.

Accordingly, a toothbrush assembly with rapidly deployable brush headmember is provided. The toothbrush assembly with a rapidly deployablebrush head member includes a handle structure, a brush head memberhaving brush bristles extending from a brush head end and a pivot end inpivotal connection with the handle structure, and a brush head switchlock and spring assembly connected between the handle structure and thebrush head member such that the brush head member is lockable in anextended configuration and a stored configuration wherein the brush headend is pivoted into and locked within a brush head member storage cavityof the handle structure in a manner to be seated within a brushreceiving sanitary pocket provided within the brush head member storagecavity to keep the brush bristles of the brush head end sanitary; thebrush head member being locked in the storage position by a slidabletrigger latch; a safety lock is provided in connection with the handlestructure that, when in a disable position, slidably engages the triggerlatch in a manner to prevent the trigger latch from disengaging from thebrush head member and, when in an enable position, is disengaged fromthe trigger latch in A manner to allow the trigger latch to be activatedby the user to release the brush head member allowing the biasing springto rapidly pivot the brush head member at the pivot end causing thebrush head end to rapidly rotate into a locked extended position; abrush head member release button is depressed to release the brush headmember to allow it to be pivoted from the extended position back intothe storage configuration when desired.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the presentinvention, reference should be made to the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like elements are given the same or analogous reference numbersand wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the toothbrushassembly with a rapidly deployable brush head member of the presentinvention with the brush head member in the extended position.

FIG. 2 is a ghosted, side plan view of the toothbrush assembly withrapidly deployable brush head member of FIG. 1 with the brush headmember in the stored configuration.

FIG. 3 is a side detail plan view of the brush head member i of FIG. 1in isolation.

FIG. 4 is a bristle end facing side detail plan view of the brush headmember of FIG. 1 in isolation.

FIG. 5 is a brush head member storage cavity facing side plan view ofthe toothbrush assembly with rapidly deployable brush head member' ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the view of the toothbrush assembly with arapidly deployable brush head member of FIG. 1 showing the brushreceiving sanitary pocket in dashed lines.

DISCLOSURE

One object of this invention is to provide a toothbrush which has a headwhich can be rapidly deployed from its handle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toothbrush having abuilt-in case.

Other objects and advantages of this invention shall become apparentfrom the ensuing descriptions of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a toothbrush assembly with a rapidlydeployable brush head member that mimics the operation of a switchbladeknife is disclosed. The toothbrush assembly includes a handle structure,a brush head member having a brush head end and a pivot end in pivotalconnection with the handle structure, and a brush head switch lock andspring assembly connected between the handle structure and the brushhead member. The spring assembly biases the brush head member and theswitch lock controls operation of the toothbrush assembly.

FIGS. 1-6 show various aspects of an exemplary embodiment of thetoothbrush assembly with rapidly deployable brush head member of thepresent invention generally designated 10. Toothbrush assembly withrapidly deployable brush head member 10 includes a handle structure,generally designated 12; a brush head member, generally designated 14;and a brush head switch lock and spring assembly, generally designated16.

The handle structure 12 has a brush head member storage cavity 18 of thehandle structure 12 sized and shaped to allow the brush head member 14to be seated therein. A sanitary pocket 20 is provided within brush headmember storage cavity 18 for keeping the brush bristles 22 of the brushhead end 17 sanitary when brush head member 14 is locked in the storageposition.

An inward and outwardly slidable trigger latch, generally designated 26,is mounted through a sidewall 30 of handle structure 12 and preventsbrush head member 14 from pivoting out of brush head member storagecavity 18. A slidable safety lock 34 is provided in connection withhandle structure 12 that, when in a disable position, slidably engagesthe trigger latch 26 in a manner to prevent the trigger latch 26 fromdisengaging from the brush head member 14 preventing the brush headmember 14 from exiting the brush head member storage cavity 18 and, whenin an enable position, is disengaged from the trigger latch 26 in amanner to allow the trigger latch 26 to be activated by the user torelease the brush head member 14 allowing the biasing spring 40 torapidly pivot the brush head member 14 at the pivot pin 42 positionedthrough handle structure 12 and a pin aperture 47 of a pivot end 48 ofbrush head member 14 causing the brush head end 17 to rapidly rotateinto a locked extended position. In this embodiment, sliding the safetylock into the enable position allows the brush head member 14 to bepivoted back into the disable position to lock the brush head member 14in the stored configuration.

It can be seen from the preceding description that a toothbrush assemblywith rapidly deployable brush head member has been provided.

It is noted that the embodiment of the toothbrush assembly with rapidlydeployable brush head member described herein in detail for exemplarypurposes is of course subject to many different variations in structure,design, application and methodology. Because many varying and differentembodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s)herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in theembodiment herein detailed in accordance with the descriptiverequirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details hereinare to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

1. A toothbrush assembly comprising: a. a handle structure having firstand second opposite ends and a brush storage cavity; b. brush headmember pivotally attached to said first opposite end; c. a kineticenergy store operatively attached to said handle structure and to saidbrush head member; and d. a releasing mechanism operatively attached tosaid handle structure and to said kinetic energy store operativelyconfigured to control the distribution of kinetic energy from saidkinetic energy store to said brush head member and said handlestructure.